Tight end David Njoku tops the list of GM Andrew Berry's trade chips. The NFL trade deadline is Tuesday at 4 p.m.
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Editor’s note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns and NFL analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
The NFL trade deadline is Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET. Even though Andrew Berry already has made four trades since the draft in April, the youthful Browns’ GM can’t help himself from making one or two more.
Before we look at all the potential trade chips on the Browns’ roster, let’s review Berry’s four trades and how they’ve aged so far.
August 25: Traded quarterback Kenny Pickett to Raiders for a fifth-round pick in 2026 draft.
At the time, this seemed a logical move. Over-hyped as Berry’s favorite to win the starting role, Pickett was felled by a Grade 2 hamstring strain before the preseason unfolded. Whenever he faced a pass rush in practice, Pickett ran. If healthy, he wouldn’t have beaten out Joe Flacco, in my opinion.
So when the Raiders panicked for a replacement for injured QB2 Aiden O’Connell, Berry cut his losses and took the Raiders’ fifth-round pick to offset the fifth-round pick Berry gave up in March to acquire him from the Eagles. If nothing else, the trade unclogged the crowded four-man quarterback room.
How did it age?: Despite a horrendous season by starter Geno Smith, Pickett has appeared in only one game and attempted two passes. Still, he’d probably be starting with the Browns right now, as things turned out.
September 29: Acquired offensive tackle Cam Robinson and a seventh-round pick in 2026 from Texans for a sixth-round pick in 2026.
After a rocky start due to the compressed week in London, Robinson has improved in each of his three starts at left tackle.
How did it age?: Robinson’s contract voids after this season. Given the Browns’ dearth of hope at offensive tackle, he could play his way onto the 2026 roster.
October 7: Traded quarterback Joe Flacco and a sixth-round pick in 2026 for the Bengals’ fifth-round pick in 2026.
Flacco’s eight turnovers in the first four games got everybody anxious to see the rookie QBs take over. Berry made this trade ostensibly to promote Dillon Gabriel to QB1 and Shedeur Sanders to QB2. Berry probably reasoned he did Flacco right by giving him an opportunity to play elsewhere.
In doing so, Berry helped the division-rival Bengals and angered the division-rival Steelers, who consequently were waxed by Flacco in his second start in five days with the Bengals. More importantly, Berry overburdened coach Kevin Stefanski and his offensive staff by leaving them with two untested rookie quarterbacks taken in the third and fifth rounds. No other team does things like this.
The deal also revealed, once again, that the head coach in Cleveland has little control over his team’s quarterback position, which is not the way it should be.
How did it age?: In four starts with the Bengals, Flacco has completed 113 of 173 for 1,254 yards, 11 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. Passer rating: 103.1. Meantime, the Browns’ offense has gone from bad to worse. One stupid trade.
October 9: Acquired cornerback Tyson Campbell and a seventh-round pick in 2026 from the Jaguars for cornerback Greg Newsome and a sixth-round pick in 2026.
Newsome was playing out his fifth-year option of $13.38 million guaranteed and wasn’t going to be re-signed. Campbell was in the first year of a four-year extension signed by Jacksonville’s previous regime. At worst, the Browns have Campbell through 2026 at a reasonable cost before his contract gets expensive.
Beyond the contract, though, Campbell is bigger, faster and better than Newsome, and only two months older.
How did it age?: Campbell already has paid off with the first Pick 6 of his career plus three touchdown-saving plays. One of Berry’s best trades.
Now for Berry’s trade possibilities before Tuesday’s 4 p.m. deadline.
1. Defensive end Myles Garrett
The time to trade Garrett was when he lobbied to get out. Had the Browns held an auction for him – a la the Texans and Deshaun Watson in 2022 – they could have hauled in three No. 1s. Instead, they re-upped him for $160 million over four years.
Now he’s more expensive than before, virtually untradeable because of significant salary cap consequences, controls his destination with a no-trade clause, and is as frustrated and disgruntled as ever. Plus, he’s getting older by the week.
Should this trade be made?: Hell no. Without Garrett, the Browns could lose every game.
2. Offensive linemen Joel Bitonio, Wyatt Teller, Ethan Pocic, Jack Conklin
Each of these veteran starters is in the last year of his contract. Most, if not every one of them, may not be back in 2026. Unfortunately, Berry has not sufficiently prepared for their exits. With the addition of Robinson at left tackle and the return of Conklin at right tackle, the line actually is in its best shape all season.
Should this trade be made?: Rarely is there a market for a center. But if there is a call for Pocic, the Browns have been grooming Luke Wypler to replace him, and should do it.
3. Tight end David Njoku
Always an enigma, Njoku failed to play up to the $56 million, four-year contract extension given him in 2022. Now in the final year of that generous deal, Njoku is having his worst season under that contract.
He’s 29 and never has been as good as the five games with Flacco at QB in 2023. And rookie Harold Fannin has pretty much surpassed him as TE1.
Should this trade be made?: The recent waiver claim of Brenden Bates gives Stefanski a decent TE3 after Fannin and Blake Whiteheart. Do it.
4. Running back Jerome Ford
After the Browns drafted Quinshon Judkins and Dylan Sampson, Ford accepted a 50 percent pay cut for a guaranteed $1.75 million. He is RB3 in the last year of his contract behind two rookies.
There is a demand for running backs. Ford would be a nice pickup for a contender in need, but the return would be minimal – a future late-round pick.
Should this trade be made?: Do it.
5. Defensive ends Alex Wright, Isaiah McGuire, Joe Tryon-Shoyinka
Wright (third round, 2022) and McGuire (fourth round, 2023) are Berry mid-round draft picks developing into legit starters. Jim Schwartz would hate to see either dealt. Wright can be a free agent and McGuire has 2026 left on his contract. If Berry decides he can’t bring both back, he should choose his keeper, re-up him, and trade the other.
Tryon-Shoyinka was a low-budget pickup who hasn’t made an impact. Given the demand for edge rushers, he might attract a 2027 late-round pick.
Should this trade be made?: I’d trade Wright or McGuire if they’d bring a fourth-round pick.